The Art Fund Lecture: The History of the of the Catacombs of Rome and their Rediscovery during the Counter-Reformation

Thursday 28th November, 2013

2:30pm - 3:30pm

Price: £10.00

Ages: Adults

Lecturer: Geri Parlby

The History of the of the Catacombs of Rome and their Rediscovery during the Counter-Reformation

Geri Parlby

Thursday 28 November, 2.30 pm

This talk covers the origins of the Catacombs of Rome and the extraordinarily varied art that adorns them. The art historian Geri Parlby dispels the myth that persecuted Christians hid inside the burial site tunnels, instead focusing on the more unusual habits practiced underground, such as the tradition of dining with the dead. Some of the oldest symbols of Christianity are found within in the catacombs, from the iconic fish to the mysterious praying female figures, exquisitely depicted in frescoes and sarcophagi carvings.

Part of the Art of Ancient Civilisationslecture series, organised by the Art Fund and taking place in the Lecture Theatre at the Wallace Collection